About the Speaker

Mexican economist Santiago Levy Algazi became the Vice President for Sector and Knowledge at the Inter-American Development Bank on March 1, 2008. From August 2007 to February 2008, he served as General Manager and Chief Economist for the IADB Research Department. Previously, he was General Director at the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) from December 2000 to October 2005. During his IMSS tenure, he promoted changes to the Social Security Act to increase transparency and accountability in IMSS finances and create long-term reserves.

From 1994 to 2000, Levy served as the Deputy Minister at the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit of Mexico, becoming the main architect of the renowned social program Progresa-Oportunidades that benefits the poor. He managed budgetary adjustments during the 1994-95 economic crisis and the 1998 fall in oil prices. Previous positions include President of the Federal Competition Commission and Director of the Economic Deregulation Program at the Ministry of Trade and Industrial Promotion.

Levy holds a Ph.D. in economics and a Masters in political economy from Boston University. He was a post-doctoral fellow at Cambridge University. Levy has advised several governments and international organizations and has held several teaching positions, including faculty positions at the Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo of Mexico and Boston University, where he was Associate Professor and Director of the Institute for Economic Development.

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